Monday’s talks come ahead of a possible informal consultation in the next two months on India’s membership in an NSG panel, headed by Argentine Ambassador Rafael Grossi.

In the June Plenary of NSG in Seoul, despite a strong US support, China stonewalled India’s bid to get entry into the group on the grounds that it was a not a signatory to the NPT.

India and China on Monday held “substantive and constructive” discussions on India’s bid for NSG membership during the second round of talks between officials in Beijing.

Following the first such meeting in New Delhi on September 13, India and China continued their discussions on the NSG issue on Monday when Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security) Amandeep Singh Gill met Director General of Department of Arms Control Wang Qun, sources said.

Watch what else is making news:

“The talks were substantive and constructive. The engagement will continue as per the directive of the leadership,” sources said. During the talks, India once again asserted to the Chinese side that its implementation of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) principles was “second to none”.

Monday’s talks come ahead of a possible informal consultation in the next two months on India’s membership in an NSG panel, headed by Argentine Ambassador Rafael Grossi.

In the June Plenary of NSG in Seoul, despite a strong US support, China stonewalled India’s bid to get entry into the group on the grounds that it was a not a signatory to the NPT. Wang, who was the chief negotiator for China in the meet, had said that signing of the NPT “is a must”, and that the rule has been set by the international community.